ON ST. DIOSCORUS THE LECTOR
MARTYR IN EGYPT.
From the Martyrology of St. Jerome
CommentaryDioscorus, Lector, Martyr in Egypt (St.)
G. H.
In the second place this Martyr is indicated in the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, & in the most ancient Epternac one these things are had: In Egypt of Dioscorus the Lector. In the other three apographs is added; who suffered many things. Peter de Natalibus book 5 of the Catalog chapter 11, citing Jerome in his Martyrology, has these things: Dioscorus the Lector & Martyr suffered in Egypt: against whom held the Governor exercised many & various torments, so that with claws he dug out his flesh, & with lamps inflamed his sides. But the ministers, terrified by the brightness of a heavenly light, fell. Last of all scorched with burning plates, he consummated martyrdom on the XV Kalends of June. These things Peter de Natalibus, which the same are read in Usuard, Ado, Notker, & the more recent ones with today's Roman Martyrology, so that someone much more ancient seems to have written such things of old, whether it was St. Jerome (as Peter thought) or another. Baronius in the Notes adds many things about the burning plates, accustomed to be applied for torment, which there can be seen, & everywhere occur in the Acts of Martyrs. Wandelbert adorns him with this verse.
The fifteenth Martyr Dioscorus fills.
Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology writes these things: At Liège the commemoration of the birthday of St. Dioscorus the Lector, today laureled with martyrdom in Egypt, from ancient observation, on account of his pledges long ago received. It is a wonder whence Saussay received this: for in the ancient & more recent Breviaries of the Church of Liège, which we have various ones, no mention is made of this Saint: but neither in any writer of Liège affairs. If at least Saussay had named the church, to which the Relics were brought; it would be allowed to inquire more accurately into the truth: since he did not do that, it remains that some one of the people of Liège suggest to us of his own accord, whether perhaps in that city it be found, by which Saussay's assertion might be confirmed.